Connector structure for mold forms and the like

ABSTRACT

A connector structure for releasably interconnecting successive mold forms or the like. The connector structure comprises a generally tubular sleeve that is hollow from end to end thereof and dimensioned to slidably receive the end portions of two successive moldboards inserted thereinto from opposite ends. The extent to which such moldboards are insertable into the connector structure is defined by stop means projecting thereinto and the moldboards are tightly held by frictional grippers accommodating boards of various thickness while preventing sagging so that the upper edges of the boards can be used for grading purposes. The connector structure has sufficient flexibility in the longitudinal direction to permit the mold comprising the same to be curved in arcuate contours required by any particular installation.

United States Patent [191 Stegmeier [21] Appl. No.: 154,290

[52] US. Cl 249/219 R, 249/6, 249/192 [51] Int. Cl. E04g 17/00 [58] Field of Search 249/2, 6, 9, 192-194,

249/196, 219 R, 1; 24/81 PE; 287/85 R, 110

[56] 1 References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1/1964 Kitchen 249/2 X 6/1930 Elliott 287/110 X 2,763,048 9/1956 Sullivan 249/1-93 3,136,023 6/1964 Von Drasek 249/192 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,559,060 8/1969 Germany 249/193 Aug. 21, 1973 Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-Ben D. Tobor Attorney-Joseph B. Gardner 1 5 ABSTRACT A connector structure for releasably interconnecting successive mold forms or the like. The connector structure comprises a generally tubular sleeve that is hollow from end to end thereof and dimensioned to slidably receive the end portions of two successive moldboards inserted thereinto from opposite ends. The extent to which such moldboards are insertable into the connector structure is defined by stop means projecting thereinto and the moldboards are tightly held by frictional grippers accommodating boards of various thickness while preventing sagging so that the upper edges of the boards can be used for grading purposes. The connector structure has sufiicient flexibility in the longitudinal direction to permit the mold comprising the same to be curved in arcuate contours required by any particular installation.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 21, 1973 3,753,545

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FIG. I FIG. 2 FIG. 3

PIC-3.5

INVENTOR:

WILLIAM J. STEGMEIER ATTORNEY CONNECTOR STRUCTURE FOR MOLD FORMS AND THE LIKE This invention relates to mold forms for concrete masses and the like and, more particularly, to connector structure for releasably interconnecting successive moldboards used to provide a shaping barrier against which a moldable mass of concrete can be poured.

The cost of materials used in building mold forms makes it economically advantageous, if not necessary, to reuse such materials wherever possible and, therefore, it is economically necessary to minimize damage to mold forms after each use thereof within the limitations imposed by the cost of the labor required to remove and disassemble mold forms for subsequent reuse. As a specific example, it is common in the construction of outdoor swimming pools to provide a concrete coping of considerable width along the upper edge of the swimming pool which provides a walkway, a drainage surface, and a splash guard overhanging the upper edge of the pool to minimize water accumulations along the walkway. These copings are constructed of poured concrete which is confined while it hardends between mold forms located along the inner edge of the pool and at a spaced location therefrom defining the outer extremity of the coping. The outer mold form is generally provided by interconnecting a plurality of relatively thin, bendable boards generally referred to as bend boards and interconnecting the same by nailing or otherwise securing the ends thereof to connector boards often referred to as scab pieces.

Although this system has been and is used in the construction of almost every outdoor swimming pool, it has a number of disadvantages which include the expenditure of a considerable amount of time in assembling successive moldboards to the connector boards by means of clinching nails; the requirement that the mold form be constructed in relatively long runs or lengths which are then placed in position requiring several workmen to lift and support the runs; the loss of time and cost of labor required to remove the forms and separate the successive boards from the connectors or scab pieces; and the considerable loss of lumber occasioned by the breakage generally associated with an attempt to loosen the boards from the connector pieces.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement for constructing mold forms and the like; and in particular to provide an improved connector structure for releasably interconnecting successive moldboards and the like.

Further objects, among others, of the present invention are in the provision of an improved connector structure of the character described which requires no nails or other fasteners to effect a firm or solid interconnection with moldboards associated therewith; which interconnection with moldboards is accomplished by simple insertion of the end portions of the moldboards into the connector structure and separation is accomplished by withdrawal of the moldboards therefrom; in which the connector structure is able to accommodate automatically the varying thickness of moldboards both in different installations and concurrently from end to end thereof; which connector structure is both resilient and flexible so as to accommodate curvatures required by any particular installation; and which connector structures are structurally simple, relatively inexpensive, have a considerable life expectancy, and require no skill to be used successfully.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention, especially as concerns particular features and characteristics thereof, will become apparent as the specification continues.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an end view in elevation of a connector structure embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a broken rear view in elevation of the connector structure shown in FIG. 1 in operative association with the end portions of a pair of successive moldboards;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a broken perspective view illustrating use of the connector structure as a part of a mold form for the rear edge of a mass of concrete to be poured thereagainst to construct a coping at the upper edge of a swimming pool;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified connector structure;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary rear view in elevation of the rear wall of themodified connector structure, the view being taken generally along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

The embodiment of the connector structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 is denoted in its entirety with the numeral 10, and it comprises an elongated, longitudinally extending sleeve member 11 of hollow tubular configuration that, in the specific form shown, is generally rectangular in cross section. Accordingly, the sleeve 11 has laterally spaced front and rear walls 12 and 13 and transversely spaced top and bottom walls 14 and 15. Evidently then, the sleeve 11 is substantially closed from end to end thereof.

Adjacent each of its ends, the sleeve member 11 is provided with sockets generally denoted with the numerals 16 and 17' respectively adapted to receive the end portions of moldboards l8 and 19 therein, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 3, it will be observed that the moldboards are generally rectangular although, as indicated hereinbefore, such moldboards are not dimensionally precise and may vary considerably especially in thickness from end to end and even from edge to edge. Therefore, the end portions of two successive moldboards 18 and 19 coupled by a connector structure 10 may differ in thickness but must, nevertheless, be accommodated by the connector structure common thereto.

In this respect, the connector structure 10 also comprises gripper means operative adjacent each end portion of the sleeve 11 to releasably grip moldboards inserted into the sockets 16 and 17. The particular gripper means provided in association with the sleeve 11 constitutes inwardly displaced sections 20 and 21 formed along the rear wall 13 of the sleeve. The inwardly deformed sections 20 and 21 in the particular sleeve 11 are actually continuous and are defined by longitudinally extending, transversely spaced lines 22 and 23 formed by the mergence of the generally flat sections 20 and 21 with the inclined areas of the rear wall 13 extending therefrom toward the respective top and bottom walls 14 and 15, as shown most clearly in FIG. 3. The inwardly displaced gripper sections 20 and 21 are spaced slightly from the ends of the sleeve 11 so that the end portions thereof remain relatively wide to taken along the taken along the provide mouths facilitating insertion of the moldboards 18 and 19 thereinto. It will be appreciated that the gripper sections 20 and 21 define with the front wall 12 of the sleeve a space somewhat narrower than the thinnest moldboard expected to be used with the connector structure so that such moldboard inserted into the sockets l6 and 17 will be frictionally gripped by the shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 is denoted with the numeral 24, and it may have a variety of forms being integral with the sleeve 11 or a separate element such as a pin wedged into an opening provided therefore, as in the case of the sleeve 11 and stop 24. As shown in FIG. 1, the stop 24 extends laterally inwardly from the rear wall 13 toward the front wall 12 and may actually abut the same; and in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the stop 25 is a pin forced through an opening provided for this purpose in the rear wall 13. The stop functions to limit the extent to which any moldboard can be inserted into the sleeve 11, thereby obviating the possibility of one moldboard being inserted into the sleeve to such an extent that the other moldboard would be inadequately gripped thereby.

The sleeve 11 is a firm, relatively rigid member yet is also relatively fexible in the sense that the gripper sections 20 and 21 are displaceable outwardly to the extent necessary to accommodate the varying thicknesses of different moldboards 18 and 19 inserted thereinto and to accommodate curvilinear deformation from end-to-end to enable a succession of moldboards and connector structures disposed therealong to be curved to the arcuate contour of any usual configuration for a concrete mass to be molded thereagainst. Also, the sleeve must tightly grip and hold such moldboards so as to prevent sagging thereof because such boards are used to grade the concrete molded thereagainst.

As a specific example, the sleeve 11 may be formed of various resilient materials having the requisite characteristics such as a synthetic plastic material (namely, polyvinyl chloride) which is not adversely affected by ultraviolet light and ozone each of which is present in outdoor environments to which the connector structure is usually subjected. The sleeve may be of any suitable color, white being advantageous in that is reflects sunlight and thereby minimizes heat accumulation; and in a specific instance, the wall thickness of the: sleeve 11 may be about 3/32 of an inch (about 0.080 inch to 0.090 inch). Considering the instance in which the connector structure is used with redwood bender boards having a thickness of about it: of an inch, a width of approximately 3% inches, and any convenient length (16 feet, for example), the length of the sleeve 1 1 may be of the general order of nine inches, the width thereof can be about 3% inches outside, and about 3% inches inside, a thickness at the mouth in excess of is inch, and a spacing between the gripper sections 20 and 21 and the front wall 12 of about one-fourth of an inch so as to readily accommodate variations in the thickness of the bender boards of from about 5/16 to $6 inch.

The modified connector structure illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7 is generally similar to the connector structure 10 heretofore described, departing therefrom for the most part as respects the form of stop employed to prevent over-insertion of the moldboards and by the inclusion of a slot to facilitate longitudinal flexibility. In view of the structural and functional similarities of the two forms of connector structures, the primed form of the same numerals are employed with the modified structure of FIGS. 5 through 7 to designate the respectively corresponding components present in the connector structure 10.

Whereas the gripper sections 20 and 21 of the connector structure 10 are essentially continuous, the respectively corresponding gripper sections 20' and 21' of the connector structure 10 are discontinuous, being separated by a transversely disposed slot 25 extending substantially from the lines of mergence 22' and 23'. Disposed along the slot 25 on each side thereof are inwardly extending projections 26 and 27 defining slots that function in the manner of the stop 24 heretofore described. In more particular terms, the stop components 26 and 27 may be provided by depressing the relatively flat section of the rear wall 13' inwardly at the center thereof so as to form, for example, a somewhat cone-shaped depression. The slot 25 is then cut through such depression leaving the projections 26 and 27.

It will be apparent that if a moldboard is displaced from left to right in the sleeve 11' so as to be inserted into the socket 16' thereof, such board may engage the smoothly curved surface of the projections 26 to displace the same outwardly but will abut the sharp edge defined by the projection 27, thereby limiting the extent to whichthe board is inserted into the sleeve. The same condition pertains respecting a board inserted into the socket 17, which board will abut the sharp edge of the projection 26. As a specific example, in a polyvinyl chloride sleeve of the type heretofore described, the cone-shaped projection may extend inwardly into the hollow sleeve for a distance of approximately one-eighth of an inch and the diameter of the I depression along the outer surface of the wall 13' may approximate 1% inches. The slot 25 cut through the center of the depression can have a width (the dimension along the length of the sleeve 11') of approximately 3/6 of an inch.

The thickness of the sleeve 11' is somewhat greater than that of the sleeve 11 heretofore described adjacent the ends so that the entrance mouths into the sockets 16' and 17 are larger, thereby facilitating insertion of moldboards thereinto. This increased thickness of the sleeve 11' also enables the top and bottom walls 14' and 15' to be somewhat wider, with the result that curved ridges or surface areas 28 and 29 are formed along the rear wall 13' of the sleeve adjacent the top and bottom walls thereof. Such curved surfaces tend to strengthen and-thereby make the sleeve 11' somewhat more firm or rigid than the sleeve 1 1 heretofore considered. The structural independence or separation of the gripper sections 20 and 21 facilitates the capability of the connector structure 10 to accommodate moldboards concurrently of significantly different thicknesses as, for example, a moldboard in the socket 16' having a thickness of say /4 of an inch and a moldboard in the socket 17 having a thickness of about '6 inch.

in use of either of the connector structures 10 and 10', they are quickly and easily assembled with successsive moldboards 18 and 19, in the manner shown in FIG. 4, simply by inserting the ends of such moldboards into the respective sockets of the connector structure. The presence of the stop 24 or 26,27 enables the workman to insert the first moldboard until further relative movement between the moldboard and socket is inhibited, the second moldboard is inserted to the same extent so that there is no danger of one of the moldboards having inadequate support because of restricted insertion into the connector structure. Since the connector structures are both flexible and resilient, they readily accommodate any curvature that must be enforced upon the moldboards because of the contour required by any design for the concrete to be molded thereagainst. Because of the ease and facility with which the connector structures are used, the over-all mold form can be assembled as it is placed in position, thereby obviating the necessity of constructing a complete moldboard and then placing it in position either as an integer or in large, unwieldy sections.

In FIG. 4, the moldboards l8 and 19 and connector structures 10 arranged therewith are shown in position along the upper edge of a swimming pool, the upper edge portion of the water-containing side walls thereof being denoted with the numeral 30. A concrete coping or surface is generally provided in overlying relation with the wall 30, and it is formed of concrete which is poured into a mold defined on the inner side of the wall 30 by a form (not shown but see, for example, my copending patent application, Ser. No. 761,726, filed Sept. 23, 1968) and on the outer side by the moldboards 18 and 19 which are joined by the connector structures 10 and held in place in the desired configuration by a plurality of stakes 31 which are driven into the ground surface 32 in a completely conventional manner.

The front wall 12 of each connector structure is substantially smooth and because the walls of the connectors are relatively thin, substantially no appreciable indentation or irregularity in the molded concrete mass (not shown) results from the presence of the connector structure. Similarly, very little deviation results along the upper surface of the moldboards l8 and 19 at the juncture thereof defined by each connector structure so that it is practicably possible to use the top wall 14 of each connector structure along with the upper edges of the moldboards for grading purposes.

After the concrete mass has solidfied to the extent that it is self-sustaining, the mold form defined by the interconnected moldboards l8 and 19 and connector structures can be removed and the moldboards quickly and easily withdrawn from the connector structure. Neither the connector structures nor the moldboards are damaged by such separation, or by interconnection thereof, so that the connector structures are reusable as are the moldboards.

While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the invention have been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making a complete disclosure thereof,

it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A connector structure for releasably interconnecting successive moldboards and the like, comprising: a longitudinally elongated generally tubular sleeve member substantially hollow from end-to-end thereof and having laterally spaced front and rear walls and transversely spaced top and bottom walls; said sleeve member having adjacent each end portion thereof a socket each extending from the associated sleeve end to adjacency with the longitudinal center of the sleeve and adapted to receive an end portion of a moldboard therein; the ends of said sleeve being relatively large in lateral dimension to define mouths facilitating insertion of such moldboards into said sockets; said rear wall having large inwardly displaced sections respectively extending from said mouths to adjacency with the longitudinal center of said sleeve in substantially parallel relation with said front wall to define gripper means operative adjacent each such end portion of said sleeve to frictionally and releasably grip along a substantial length thereof the end portion of a moldboard located within the associated socket.

2. The connector structure of claim 1 and further comprising a transversely restricted stop projecting laterally into said sleeve adjacent the longitudinal center line thereof intermediate said sockets to limit the extent to which the end of any such moldboard is insertable thereinto.

3. The connector structure of claim 1 in which said sleeve member is narrow in laterial dimension with respect to the transverse dimension thereof and is stiff along the lateral and transverse axes but relatively flexible along the longitudinal axis thereof; said rear wall being provided with a transversely disposed slot intermediate said sockets to enhance the longitudinal flexibility of said sleeve and thereby facilitate curvilinear deformation thereof from end-to-end.

4. The connector structure of claim 3 in which said rear wall has an inward projection along said slot intermediate the transverse ends thereof to define a stop limiting the extent to which the end portion of any such moldboard is insertable thereinto.

5. The connector structure of claim 1 in which said sleeve is generally rectangular in cross section, and in which said sockets are substantially closed components for slidably and frictionally receiving the end portions of moldboards therein.

6. The connector structure of claim 1 in which the rear wall of said sleeve member is provided with a transversely disposed slot intermediate said sockets and is further provided with an inward projection along said slot intermediate the transverse ends thereof to define a stop limiting the extent to which the end portion of any such moldboard is insertable into said sockets.

* l i i 

1. A connector structure for releasably interconnecting successive moldboards and the like, comprising: a longitudinally elongated generally tubular sleeve member substantially hollow from end-to-end thereof and having laterally spaced front and rear walls and transversely spaced top and bottom walls; said sleeve member having adjacent each end portion thereof a socket each extending from the associated sleeve end to adjacency with the longitudinal center of the sleeve and adapted to receive an end portion of a moldboard therein; the ends of said sleeve being relatively large in lateral dimension to define mouths facilitating insertion of such moldboards into said sockets; said rear wall having large inwardly displaced sections respectively extending from said mouths to adjacency with the longitudinal center of said sleeve in substantially parallel relation with said front wall to define gripper means operative adjacent each such end portion of said sleeve to frictionally and releasably grip along a substantial length thereof the end portion of a moldboard located within the associated socket.
 2. The connector structure of claim 1 and further comprising a transversely restricted stop projecting laterally into said sleeve adjacent the longitudinal center line thereof intermediate said sockets to limit the extent to which the end of any such moldboard is insertable thereinto.
 3. The connector structure of claim 1 in which said sleeve Member is narrow in laterial dimension with respect to the transverse dimension thereof and is stiff along the lateral and transverse axes but relatively flexible along the longitudinal axis thereof; said rear wall being provided with a transversely disposed slot intermediate said sockets to enhance the longitudinal flexibility of said sleeve and thereby facilitate curvilinear deformation thereof from end-to-end.
 4. The connector structure of claim 3 in which said rear wall has an inward projection along said slot intermediate the transverse ends thereof to define a stop limiting the extent to which the end portion of any such moldboard is insertable thereinto.
 5. The connector structure of claim 1 in which said sleeve is generally rectangular in cross section, and in which said sockets are substantially closed components for slidably and frictionally receiving the end portions of moldboards therein.
 6. The connector structure of claim 1 in which the rear wall of said sleeve member is provided with a transversely disposed slot intermediate said sockets and is further provided with an inward projection along said slot intermediate the transverse ends thereof to define a stop limiting the extent to which the end portion of any such moldboard is insertable into said sockets. 